Adapter for universal lever switches



Aug. 26, 1952 I P P ADAPTER FOR UNIVERSAL LEVER SWITCHES Filed March 22, 1948 FIG. 2

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" ADAPTER FOR UNIVERSAL LEVER SWITCHES Rudolf Popp, Valparaiso, Ind., assignor to McGill Manufacturing Company, Inc., Valparaiso, Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana Application March 22, 1948, Serial No. 16,253

Claims.

This invention relates to universal leverplied downwardly to it Sometimes, however, the switch is positioned so that the operating force must be applied in the same direction as that in which the universal lever extends. For example, the switch may be mounted on a ceiling fixture with the universal lever extending downwardly, andwith a pull chain or the like depending from the lever. When the universal lever is subjected to a direct pull in this manner, it does not function as a lever but merely as a link, and under these circumstances the switch requires a rather hard pull for its operation. The fixture is also subjected to greater stress when the lever is directly pulled than when it is rocked on its fulcrum.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved adapter which enables a universal lever switch to be readily operated as a lever even .though the pull is in a direction parallel to that in which the universal lever extends.

A further object is to provide an improved adapter for a universal lever switch mounted in a ceiling fixture or the like which enables the switch to be operated as easily when the universal lever is extending downwardly from the .fixture as would normally be the case when the lever extends laterally.

A still further object is to provide a novel adapter of simple and economical construction having the aforesaid advantages and which can readily be attached-to existing makes of universal lever switches.

In accordance witha feature of the invention, an operating arm isattached to the universal lever of a fixture switcher the like to extend substantially at right anglesfrom the lever, and a pull chain or cord for opfil'ating the switch is connected to the outer end .of this arm, When the operating arm, is pulled, it causes the universal lever to be rocked on its fulcrum, and t is, way

ing the principles of the invention;

.downwardly from the wall 12.

the switch is operated with its customary ease instead of requiring an unduly hard pull.

The invention also provides a guide member for the arm of the adapter, this member being conveniently mounted on the fixture by the fastening means for the switch and serving to prevent the arm from turning about the longitudinal axis of the lever, as well as limiting the extent of its swing.

The foregoing andother objects, features and advantages of this invention will be betterunderstood by reference to the followingdetail ed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in whichz a Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of auniversal lever switchequipped with anadapter embody -Fig. 2 is a detailed elevational view showing the arm of the adapter; r

- Fig. 3 is a plan view of the arm;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the guide for the adapter arm;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the invention; ,2

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified guide; and

Fig '7 is a perspective view of the operatingarm of the modified adapter.

In practicing the invention, an operating arm, which may be formed out of a sheet metal stamping or a length of hard wire, is attached at one end thereof to the universal lever of the switch. Preferably the arm is so constructed that itcan be snapped on to thelever. A'forked guide member adapted for slide on attachment to the switch is secured at its upper end to the wall of the fixture by a mounting nut for the switch. This guide member has a vertical slot or guide opening through which the arm of the adapter extends. The lowerend of the slot is closed to limit downward swing of the arm. A chain or cord is attached to the outer end of the arm for actuating the switch. 7

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows the manner in which a typical universallever switch, 10 of well known construction may be mounted; on the wall 12 of a fixture, with the universal lever I4 of the switch in extending As is usual in such structures, the lever 14 is seated at its upper 'to receive the arm 20.

end on a threaded mounting stem (not visible) of the switch. A mounting nut IS on this mounting stem secures the switch ID to the fixture wall l2. The universal lever l4 normally is adapted to be rocked from a position such as indicated by full lines in Fig. 1 to the position represented by broken lines for operating the switch 10. However, when the switch I is so disposed that the lever l4 extends downwardly from a high point such as a ceiling fixture, as in the present instance, it has not been convenient or possible to rock the lever [4 on its fulcrum. This-has been due to the fact that the pulling element, such as the bead chain l8, customarily has been directly connected to the lever H. In such instances a relatively hard pull on the chain l8 was required to actuate the switch contacts.

In accordance with the present invention, an adapter arm 2|] is attached at one end thereof to the shank of the universal lever 14 and extends laterally therefrom. The pull chain l8 or like member, instead of depending from the lever H, is connected to the outer end of the arm 20 by a suitable coupler 22. When the chain 18 is pulled downwardly, the arm 20 moves from its full-line position into its broken-line position, Fig. 1, and causes the lever I4 to be rocked as indicated.

the arm 20 can be snapped onto the shank of the lever H. The conventional annular beads ,26 and 28 on the lever 4 assist in retaining the hooked end .24 engaged withlever H.

In order to prevent the arm 20 from turning about the longitudinal axis of the lever l4, a

guide member 30 isprovided. This guide member is forked at its upper end 32, as shown in Fig. 4, and the forked end 32 is inserted between the mounting nut l6 and the fixture wall l2, being held firmly in position by the'nut l B when it is tightened. The guide member 32 curves inwardly to a slight extent at its lower end 34; and is provided with a vertically extending slot 36 The slot 36 guides the arm 20 as the latter is swung and confines the movement of the arm 20 to a vertical plane. The lower end of the slot 36 is closed so as to limit the downward swing of the arm 20, thus preventing damage to the switch.

Considering now the modification illustrated in Figs, 5, 6 and '7, the arm 40 of the adapter is formed of hard wire which is coiled at its inner end, as indicated at 42, to grip the shank of the universal lever l4. The coils 42 aresufficiently yielding so that they may he slipped over the bead 28 on the lever H, but the wire itself is sufficiently rigid so that it does not bend appreciably when subjected to a downward, pull. The

outer end of the arm 40 is formed into a loop 44 to receivea pull cord 46 or the like.

A guide member 41 for the arm v4i! may likewise. be made of hard wire bent into a U-shape,

swing of the arm 40.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have, provided a universal lever switch adapterof simple and cheap construction which iscapable of being attached to the universal lever switches which are presently on the market 4 to increase their utility. This adapter enables universal lever switches to be employed in situations where formerly they were regarded as not feasible or disadvantageous. Additional features of this adapter not specifically mentioned herein above may be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, such embodiment obviously is capable of being modified without departing from the principles set forth hereinabove, and it is intendedto cover-al1 such modifications by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a universal lever switch mechanism arranged for mounting in an elevated position with the universal lever thereof extending downwardly, an adapter for enabling the universal lever to be rocked by a downward pull, comprising a laterally extending arm respectively adapted at opposite ends thereof for attachment to the universal lever and for connection to a pull member for actuating the switch, and a guide adapted for slide-on attachment to the switch and co operating with said arm to prevent said arm from turning on the lever axis.

.2. In a switch having a universal'lever for actuating the switch, the combination of an arm on the universal lever extending transversely therefrom an adapted to transmit to the universal lever an actuating force applied parallel to the lever, said arm comprising a sheet metal stamping having a hook portion at one end thereof to embrace the shank of the universal lever and a guide mounted on the switch to prevent turning of said arm about the longitudinal axis of the universal lever and also limiting the rocking movement of said arm when the same is actuated by a force applied thereto.

3; In a switch having a universal lever for actuating the switch, the combination of an arm on the universal lever extending transversely therefrom for enabling the lever to be rocked by a force applied parallel to the lever, said arm comprising a length of stifi wire coiled at one end thereof around the shank of the universal lever and a guide mounted on the switch to prevent turning of said arm about the longitudinal axis of the universal lever and also limitin the rocking movement of said arm when the same is actuated by a force applied thereto.

4. An adapter for enabling a universal lever switch to be operated by a force substantially parallel with and transversely spaced from the longitudinal axis of the universal lever, such adapter comprising a substantially rigid arm having a portion for gripping the universal lever and another portion extending transversely from said gripping portion to aflord a leverage for the switch-operating force, and a guide member adapter to be mounted on the switch in a slide on operation and cooperating with said arm to prevent said arm from turning on said lever axis.

5. An adapter for enabling a universal lever switch to be operated by a force acting substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lever, said adapter including a guidemember comprising a supporting portion designed to fit the housing of said switch, said supporting portion having an arm integral therewith and extending therefrom, said arm having an elongated lslot therein, and a lever arm movably disposed within said slot, said lever arm being secured on one of its ends to said universal lever, and secured on the other of its ends to an actuating 5 means movable along a line parallel to the lon- Number gitudinal axis of said lever. 985,958 RUDOLF POPP. 1,458,864 1,487,445 REFERENCES CITED 5 1,670,453 The following references are of record in the e 117473758 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 317,613 64,318 Howe Apr. 30, 1867 521,777

Name Date Wetterwald Mar. '7, 1911 Upton June 12, 1923 Dickinson Mar. 18, 1924 Klous May 22, 1928 Despard Feb. 18, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 22, 1929 Great Britain May 30, 1940 

